I am very interested in replacing my 35 year old Sears canvas bird hunting coat.
Please offer up brands and what kind of experience you have had with that product.
Thanks
Phil

I've had this Filson bird hunting coat for 20 years (+/-) - I heard recently they have discontinued a lot of their hunting products, but I don't know. My coat is just getting broken in - made of "tin cloth" - they last.

I also have a Filson Waxed Canvas (very heavy cotton) coat. Very expensive but willl last a lifetime. I would look at LL Bean, they have some nice traditional hunting coats, they also have a waxed cotton version, and the good news, they are reasonable for price.

Thank you

Labsandelk, my first Hunting Coat was from Montgomery Wards, I believe it was a Western Field. Bought it new in 1966 for $16, wore it until 1993 when I passed it on to my son. He used it as a work coat, and got a couple of year out of it before he stopped using the coat, 30 years of service is not to bad. I then used some Remington upland bird clothing ( well made and durable) for the next 10 years before I switched to Filson. Remington Coat, vest and pants are still downstairs in a closet. They show very little wear and are warm and comfortable to wear. Some sort of man made fabric that breaths well, drys out quickly, and is warm to the skin. I only got the Filson stuff, because Gander Mountain had a 1/2 off Sale after Christmas in 2004 and I could not pass on the deal. The Filson coat and bird vest have stood up well, so have the chaps, the oil coated tin cloth pants are getting very frayed on the bottom of the cuffs and I think I am going to take them and have a piece of leather sewn to extend the life. If you do deceide to order Filson do yourself a favor and have them install the leather binding on the bottom of the pants.

[color:#FFFF00][/color]

Those dogs look happy

Thanks for the heads up on the Filson pants
It seems that Jays is a large retailer of Filson. I will stop in and see what they have in stock then order on line

I called Beans and they are currently out but the fall order will be in sometime in June

If you are familiar with Jays, you must be from Michigan. I stopped at the store in Clare on my way to do some Salmon Fishing last October and was amazed that they did not have any Filson items for Sale. I don't know if they still carry the brand. The latest Filson catalogue shows only one store in Michigan in the UP.

The Filson heavy tin cloth should get raves on durability, but it will never be broken in. If it is hot you will sweat more than a little under it. If it is cold it wears like a stiff board and gives little warmth. To its credit, if going thru the jaggers it can't be beat. They named it well when they used the word tin cloth. They do have some lighter tin cloth offerings that are more practical.

LLBean has jackets that are much more comfortable for all around use.

True enough - tin cloth does hold the heat in when its hot; of course when it's hot I don't wear a coat of any type (use a shirt with some brier patches and a strap vest, add a wool vest if it's cool). Now, I've always been quite warm in the tin coat when it's cold out; of course I wear other clothes under the coat (how much actually depends on how cold it is) - a nice wool vest over a good flannel or chamois shirt helps as well if it is pretty cold. Browning also offers a nice line of canvas pants and coats; not as expensive or as stiff (or as durable) as the Filson, but should last a long, long time. Happy hunting!

Odessa,

I'm a hunting coat freek and there isn't much I'm not willing to try in the search for what works. No doubt Filson makes quality gear. That being said high on my list are clothes that move easy while wearing.

My problem with the heavy tin cloth is it doesn't move all that well. Especially when you start adding layers underneath. Most of the time when moving and while upland hunting in the cold I wear two LW poly something tops along with a thin puff jacket. These days usually under an llBean field coat.

That combination gives a lot of flexibility to adjust to varying temps. And if something needs removed-usually the puff jacket-I place it in a garbage bag and put it in the game pouch. Takes up little space and you hardly know it is there.

Whoever came up with the idea of the puff jacket should be given a big thanks from all who roam around in the outdoors. One extremely versatile piece of gear.

Battue, well stated. I do find my Remington hunting coat or a Gander Mountain canvas barn coat much more comfortable for movement and breathability than my Filson gear. If it wasn't for the opportunity to pick up a coat, strap vest, pants and a pair of chaps and suspenders for just over $200 about 10 years ago at a close out sale, I probably would not have Filson gear. I still very much like their chaps and bird vest, great for warm weather hunting. Get the extra large version and you can wear it over other clothing for cold weather. My Filson coat is 11 years old and it is still stiff, and the pants when you slip them on in a cold cabin are stiff and cold to the touch. But they can't beat for the briars and hawthorn bushes.

Versatility is why I ended up with a strap vest. I wear whichever garment works for that day and put on the vest as the last layer.

I have a Filson tin cloth cruiser and I really like it. It wears like iron.

I have been chastised before for posting stuff like this but I will post it again. I have purchased grade "A" primo vintage stuff from these folks. You can trust their word on condition. If you browse thru their hunting clothes available you might even find a like new replacement of your old Sears jacket! Not that they have one now, but keep checking!

http://www.vintagetrends.com/search/thumbnails.asp?SS=Hunting

Thanks Kaywoodie, I will check out this site. Not sure why someone would chastise a member for providing useful info.

Oh not really chastise. That might have been too strong a word. More like a little belittling or teasing concerning my affection for vintage things of wool, and canvas. But I can't help the fact that I prefer old style equipment. Nothing against folks who prefer newer fabric/materials. It just not my particular style.

Last purchase from the folks was a like new Chippewa Mills buffalo type check Mack from the 50's. It's my elk hunting coat. I have another canvas upland hunting coat I picked up elsewhere.

Google tin cloth in New Zealand.
Check out Swandri and ecowool. That may lead you to other links.
New Zealand companies make excellent waxed coats.

Kaywoodie
Found an older LLBEAN coat on that site. Think I will get it
Thanks
Phil

My absolute favorite is vintage Duxbak from the late 1920s thru the late 1940s. This coat has buttons, so no metal snaps to wreck the stock of a fine shotgun. large side pockets (actually tandem pockets) share one wide flap. I wish somebody would re-make a coat in this pattern. I've been collecting them in various sizes thinking that one day I can convince someone to start making them again. I don't know if the sanfordized cravenette cotton canvas is still available, but its a great fabric. It's super strong, water resistant, and light weight. IMHO, these original garments are really the best of the best ever made. I have several Filson coats, but I find that oiled tin cloth either makes me sweat (its doesn't breath) and/or is stiff and frigid when worn in the cold. The lighter weight shelter and cover cloth seem to breath and I don't notice them being stiff or cold in sub-zero temps. If I think of it I'll post some pics of my classic Duxbak jackets.

Phil, msg me your size.

The features that I like about this design include the tandem side pockets, the mid breast slash hand pockets, the large radius on the pocket on the pocket flap corners, the partially concealed placket, the gusseted shoulders and waist, and the large full game pouch. This coat fits where it needs to around the shoulders yet offers plenty of room for movement. It's almost boxy through the middle, kind of like a good wader length coat. Heavy metal snaps and zippers are not friendly to the wood stocks of fine guns. Filson seemed to know this as all of their hunting coats had covered (one handed snaps) on pockets and favored buttons to zippers. Now that Filson is run by a fashion designer, the wisdom of many of these designs seems to have been lost. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of Filson and happy that they've survived largely intact, but wish they had more competition.

That is a nice coat!!!! Congrats!!!

Send one to the people at LL Bean, they may consider it.

They should have purchased it. LL Bean would not put one on back order when I talked to them nor was the person sure they would be carrying it in the future.
I did purchase the one from Vintage

Well post a pic of you in it out in the field!!! I'd love to see it!

We hope to get out one more time in April. If we do photo will be posted